Free Mumnesia by Katie Dale

trying to contain my anger.
‘Well, I
like
Madonna.’
    She raises an eyebrow. ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes! Really!’ I snap. ‘
And
I LOVED
the pink limo.’
    ‘Wow. Maybe you should join the Megabimbos then, if
that’s what you want. I thought you were better than
that.’
    ‘What does that mean?’ I demand, my hands flying
to my hips.
    ‘Why can’t you just be yourself, Lucy?’
Kimmy says sadly.
    ‘I
am
being myself – I’ve only
changed my hair!’ I protest, my pulse pounding in my ears.
‘You just don’t like it because now I’m more
confident and popular and I’m finally fitting
in!’
    ‘Why would you
want
to fit in with
them
?’
    ‘The most popular girls in our year?’ I laugh.
‘Like, duh!’
    ‘
Like, duh!
’ she mocks, pacing back and
forth angrily. ‘You even
sound
like them! Why do you
want to be like them? They’re horrible!’
    ‘No, they’re not!’ I argue.
‘They’ve been lovely tonight.
You’re
the
only one being horrible, and you’re supposed to be my best
friend!’
    ‘And you’re supposed to be mine!’ Kimmy
rounds on me, her eyes glistening like wet pebbles. ‘But
best friends don’t break their promises!’ Her voice
cracks and she turns away from me. ‘We were going to get
our ears pierced together, remember? When we’re thirteen?
We had a deal!’
    OMG, I totally forgot! Guilt prickles under my skin, but
I’m too upset to apologize. ‘Well . . . well,
I’d probably
never
have got them pierced if I waited
for you,’ I retort. ‘I never see you outside of
school! You never have time for me any more – you’re
always too busy with your stupid sports! Like tonight!’
    Kimmy throws up her hands. ‘I had netball –
we’ve got a match tomorrow!’
    ‘Well, maybe you should go home and practise
then!’ I yell, storming out of the kitchen and slamming the
door behind me.
    ‘Material Girl’ is just
finishing and everyone else is giggling and laughing. Why does
Kimmy have to take everything so seriously? I was having fun
until she turned up! Then ‘Holiday’ comes on, and I
feel a pang. Usually this would start an instant goof-off contest
between us.
    ‘Woo-hoo! This one’s my favourite!’ Shazza
squeals. ‘Come on, girls!’ She swings her hips and
waves her arms in the air, in perfect time with Madonna on the
TV.
    Freya laughs. ‘Your mum is so cool!’
    She wouldn’t have said that if she’d met her two
days ago!
    I smile as I fall into step with the group, and as we twirl
and kick and clap and giggle together I’ve never felt so
popular in my life. Why should I let Kimmy spoil everything?
    Suddenly the doorbell rings. ‘Pizza!’ Shazza
cries, racing to the door.
    Then, over the music, I hear a voice sing,
‘
Hollanda-aise!
’
    I turn to see Kimmy, arms and legs whirling like a Catherine
wheel, her hair flying everywhere as she shakes her head wildly.
‘
Saliva-ate!
’
    A small smile plays at my lips.
    ‘
What
is she doing?’ Megan pulls a face as
if she’s smelled something gross.
    I know exactly what she’s doing. She’s
goofball-dancing, just like we always do.
    ‘Those aren’t the moves!’ Viv says with a
frown.
    ‘She’s so weird!’ Nicole sneers.
    Kimmy pretends to cram food in her mouth as she bounces up and
down. ‘
It would ta-aste . . . it would taste SO
GOOD!
’
    ‘Uh, those aren’t even the lyrics, Chung.’
Megan smirks. ‘Like,
duh
!’
    ‘I know!’ Kimmy laughs. ‘That’s the
point, right, Luce?’
    Everyone turns to stare at me and I feel my cheeks grow hot.
#Cringe! How has the best night of my life suddenly become the
most awkward? I look around for Shazza, but she’s still
outside.
    What should I do? Should I join in with Kimmy and embarrass
myself in front of the Megababes, just after I’ve
finally
been accepted? Or – wait . . . is that what
Kimmy
wants
? My stomach hardens. Well, she can look like a
fool by herself.
    ‘I’ve no idea what